1996 FORD WINDSTAR Electrical Systemwiring Problems

6 NHTSA complaints on file

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Electrical Systemwiring Issues in the 1996 FORD WINDSTAR

6 electrical systemwiring complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1996 FORD WINDSTAR. Of these, 0 involved a crash, 2 involved a fire, and 0 resulted in injury.

Complaints

Crashes

Fires

Injuries

Deaths

All Electrical Systemwiring Complaints

#10136744 | September 16, 2005

I SMELLED SOME TYPE OF PLASTIC BURNING WHILE WAITING AT A STOP LIGHT. AFTER TURNING INTO THE STORE I DISCOVERED THE SMELL STAYED WITH MY CAR. AFTER PARKING, I NOTICED SMOKE POURING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I LIFTED THE HOOD AND DISCOVERED A CONNECTOR WAS OVERHEATING AND MELTING. I PULLED THE CONNECTOR WITH A WET PAPER TOWEL AND THE SMOKE CLEARED. I LATER LEARNED IT WAS THE SPEED CONTROL SWITCH LOCATED ON THE BOTTOM OF THE MASTER CYLINDER SHORTED AND CAUSED AN OVERHEATING PROBLEM CAUSING THE CONNECTOR TO START SMOKING AND MELTING. A FEW DAYS LATER I COULD SMELL THE BURNING AGAIN AND DECIDED TO CUT THE CONNECTOR COMPLETELY OFF TO PREVENT ANY FURTHER SHORTING. A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER I HEARD ABOUT A SIMILAR RECALL AND DECIDED TO NOTIFY YOU AS MY MODEL WAS NOT PART OF THE ORIGINAL RECALL.*JB

#10130672 | July 31, 2005 Fire

WE PARKED THE CAR AT RUBY TUESDAY PARKING LOT AND WE WENT INSIDE TO EAT AND EARLY DINNER. LESS THAN FIVE MINUTES PEOPLE STARTED SCREAMING TO CALL 911. THEY SAID CAR ON FIRE. WHEN I LOOKED OUT AT THE WINDOW, MY 96 FORD WINSTAR WAS ON FIRE AT THE FRONT PART, ENGINE AREA OF THE VEHICLE. FIRE DEPARTMENT AND POLICE HAD TO PUT DOWN THE FIRE. GOOD NEWS, NOBODY WAS HURT. WOULD YOU PLEASE LOOK IN TO IT? THANKS SIONE. *JB

#743233 | April 5, 2001

ENGINE CHECK CAME ON TOOK TO AN INDEPENDENT SERVICE SHOP TO HAVE DIAGNOSTICS RUN. WAS TOLD IT NEEDED A TUNE UP, NEW SPARK PLUGS AND CABLES, FUEL FILTER, AIR FILTER, FUEL INJECTORS CLEANED AND I ALSO HAD OIL CHANGED SINCE IT WAS TIME FOR IT. PICKED UP VEHICLE PAID 444.00 FOR THE SERVICE NEXT MORNING DROVE TO WORK, OIL LIGHT CAME ON. I HAVE NEVER HAD THE OIL LIGHT FLICKERED ON. CHECKED OIL, IN MY PARKING SPACE WAS DARK SO ALL I COULD SEE IS THERE WAS FLUID AT THE CORRECT LEVEL. STARTED IT UP THAT EVENING TO GO HOME DROVE APROXIMATELY 40 MILES, STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT AND THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON THE THE ENGINE BEGAN MAKING A KNOCKING NOISE. I PULLED OFF THE ROAD HAD TO TOWED BACK TO THE SHOP THAT DID THE WORK. WAS TOLD THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH IT, OIL LIGHT...

#736827 | November 29, 2000

THE ABS LIGHT HAS COME ON OVER 3 OCCASIONS. THE FIRST TWO TIMES OCCURRED WITHIN 2 YEARS AFTER THE PURCHASE OF THE VAN THEREFORE THE REPAIR WAS UNDER WARRANTY. THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT WAS 06/2000 DUE TO A WIRE SHORT AND THE REPAIR COSTED $219. ALSO, WE JUST NOTICED THAT A PIECE OF BAR WAS BROKEN OFF NEAR THE FRONT ALIGNMENT. TOOK THE VAN TO THE SHOP AND FOUND OUT THE SWAY BAR WAS BROKEN OFF. THE REPAIR SHOP INDICATED THAT THIS PART USUALLY LASTS THE LIFE OF THE VAN UNLESS WE HIT SOMETHING HARD. THIS WAS NOT THE CASE AND THE REPAIR WILL COST $430. *AK

#832950 | December 31, 1998

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK TO DEALER & HAD WIRING REPAIRED. THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS WENT OUT. PROBLEM HAD REOCCURRED. WAS ELECTRICAL SHORT IN WIRES. *AK

#815103 | September 12, 1997 Fire

THE VEHICLE PARKED FOR TWO DAYS HAD A DEFECTIVE REAR A/C WIRE WHICH WAS TOO SHORT, AND CAUSED AN OVERLOAD ON THAT REAR A/C WIRE, CAUSING A FIRE WITHOUT WARNING. PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT, ENGINE LIGHT DID COME ON, BUT LIGHT WENT OFF. *AK

Other 1996 FORD WINDSTAR Problem Areas

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